Crazy Rich Asians, the movie version, is a year-old! Goodness, how time flies! And still, we’re obsessed with the movie. Not only is it crazy good, but it’s given us a lot of crazy ideas for the best ways to live our super luxe fantasies. For those who have the cash to spend, and for the rest of us to pretend, from how to get there, how to stay, and how to eat, this is how we plan to holiday like a Crazy Rich Asian.
How to Travel
Economy-class travel? How do people manage the indignity of being squashed into those tiny seats? Let’s get away from prying eyes and the disturbingly loud chewing of the guy in 82F.
First Class
You’re not one who enjoys spending six hours listening to “Debbie” in the row behind you loudly talk about her ex-husbands, her watercolours, and her radiant beauty, all while she watches a movie on her tablet without headphones. No, you like to walk off a plane well-rested, and immaculate thanks to luxe amenities, chef service and that private compartment. You’re pretty much obsessed with Singapore Airlines and their award-winning first-class service.
Singapore Airlines CRA Travel
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Read also: Singapore dethroned! These are the world’s best airlines for 2019
Private Jet
Ok. Let’s take it up a notch. Get your whole family on board a private plane (we’re not just talking about the dogs). Now that you’re alone, enjoy some [loud] quality time together without getting shushed by some random man who thinks you’re disturbing his sleeping baby.
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Super Yacht
Why take to the skies? You’ve got money and all the time in the world. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. On a yacht, the world is your view, not those tiny little plane portholes. If you get cabin fever, go for a swim or do some yoga on a sun deck! Plus, no baggage limitations! Bring your entire vacation wardrobe and both your shoe closets.
Take, for example, this beauty – Aqua Blu, a former 60-metre British Naval Explorer, which was refitted and transformed into a four-deck luxury yacht with fifteen suites and 25 crew member. How could you not love travelling to your destination like this?
Aqua Blu C&N
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Read also: A Luxury Cruise through Koh Samui with Camper and Nicholsons
How to Stay
Hotels? Kween, please. It’s all about villas, aka privacy, privacy, convenience, more privacy, and that perfect view. That means there are no upstairs neighbours “rearranging the furniture” at 2 AM. Even better, you can put the baby down in the other room so that you can have your wine in peace and not on the hotel’s bathroom floor. Also, pristine IG opportunities without having to shove your way around all the plebs.
Baan Kilee, Lipa Noi, Koh Samui
Welcome to your private resort in Koh Samui! We’re talking eight bedrooms, 30 metres of beach frontage, children’s playground, beachfront dining, world-class gym, three swimming pools (including one with a swim-up bar and pull-down projector), swing beds for dining at, sunset views, and private chef.
Baan Kilee Koh Samui
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The View Samui, Taling Ngam, Koh Samui
Have a party or have two! This five-bedroom Koh Samui villa is made for entertaining, with sweeping areas across multiple levels made for mingling and dining. If you’re not that into big events, it’s also great as a family-friendly base, with an excellent custom-built kids room and facilities.
The View Samui
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Villa Natha, Chaweng, Koh Samui
You don’t know what it means to have a home away from home until you’ve stayed at Villa Natha in Koh Samui. Natha is a 5-bedroom multi-storey hillside villa, furnished to ensure that even the most restless traveller is always occupied. The villa overlooks the island’s eastern coast and has a 15-metre infinity pool that will keep your friends in a state of perpetual envy.
Villa Natha Samui
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Hakuchozan, Middle Hirafu, Niseko
Six-star rating (yes, that’s a thing!); seven-bedrooms; outdoor jacuzzi deck with fire pit; a man-cave; four butlers, a private chef and a driver; all-inclusive (we’re talking daily meals, including a 4-course dinner or a hotpot and BBQ evenings, as well as unlimited drinks); and close to the slopes! Hakuchozan, the winner of World Ski Awards™ Japan’s Best Ski Chalet in 2018, is what dreams are made of.
Hakuchozan
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Skye Niseko, Upper Hirafu, Niseko
Okay, we don’t actually hate hotels at all, especially when they’re as big, beautiful, and wonderful as Skye Niseko (the ski-in-ski-out aspect doesn’t hurt either). This resort offers tons of luxe amenities and various room types including studio rooms, 1- to 4-bedroom suites, and penthouses.
Skye Niseko
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Villa Tantangan, Tabanan, Bali
Clifftop AND beachfront. Talk about double trouble! Perched on a cliff 15 metres above sea level, Villa Tantangan overlooks Bali’s black sand coast and the Indian Ocean. The three-bedroom eco-friendly beauty has a 20-metre pool and a big garden for running around in. It’s also as private as you can get. You have the 8,200-square-metre plot all to yourself, as it is at least a 10-minute drive through rice fields to the nearest village.
Tantangan
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Read also: Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding & Harry Shum in Bali with The Luxe Nomad
Villa Mary, Canggu, Bali
Set on Pererenan beach, Villa Mary is exactly the type of home you think of when you picture Bali. There are traditional alang-alang roofs, teak fixtures, tropical greenery and rice paddies, and that stunning ocean view. The five-bedroom retreat is all about the luxe life with open-air lounges, a cinema room, jacuzzi and two pools!
Villa Mary
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Villa Florimar, Seseh, Bali
Need some extra space? The five-bedroom Villa Florimar has you covered. This villa, which opens up onto the black sand beaches of Bali’s Seseh, boasts three separate pavillions ensuring everyone has their space (and lots of quiet). It’s hard to resist the grand garden centred around an 18-metre pool, fabulous interiors, pool, ocean views and grey-black river stones featured throughout.
Villa Florimar
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Atuarohe, Queenstown, New Zealand
With unsurpassed views across central Queenston and Lake Wakatipu, this hunting lodge-esque luxury home is perfectly positioned. The five spacious bedrooms complemented by four luxuriously appointed bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows open out onto an expansive private deck from which you can enjoy the views.
Atuarohe
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How to Eat
To travel well, eat REAL well.
When we’re not arguing over the best hawker markets, it’s all about private rooms, chef’s tables, grand views, and exceptional styling. Sorry, but, no free ketchup packets to swipe in these establishments. But make sure that your assistant remembers to book your table!
Chi Samui, Koh Samui
Dine out at Chi Samui on Bang Rak’s pristine white beach. This stunning beach bar and restaurant delivers Mediterranean style and vibes, with the most incredible decor and tables, modern cuisine, delicious hand-crafted cocktails and an extensive wine list. Work off your meal at the 25m saltwater swimming pool or dance to the live music & DJ sets, or sit back and enjoy a fire show. Plus, guests of The Luxe Nomad and Luxury Villas & Homes receive a 10% discount at Chi when reservations are booked through their concierge service.
Somoza Gallery, Niseko
SOMOZA is a boutique property combining essential Japanese elements from tradition to craftsmanship, design, history and stunning scenery. With a chef’s table dinner for up to twelve guests, the chef incorporates ingredients, techniques and methods used by the various cultures that make Hokkaido what it is.
Read also: 5 Romantic Niseko Restaurants for Date Night this 2019-2020 Ski Season
Apéritif, Bali
Lean into 1920s glamour and stay awhile at Apéritif. The menu and the food at this Gatsby-esque restaurant are entirely conceptual. Inspired by the chefs’ experiences, you can enjoy the artistry and story behind the dishes.
This is where you take your lover if you want to make them feel special.
Sushi Shin, Niseko
Owned by Michelin 3-Star Master Chef Masaaki Miyakawa, who has been making sushi for over thirty years, Sushi Shin the best sushi you’ll ever find. Guests under twelve are required to eat in the private room, ensuring other guests enjoy a quieter atmosphere.
Acorn, Niseko
Acorn is a modern Japanese restaurant developed by creative director Takeshi Nagashima formerly of Michelin 3-Star awarded El Bulli and the owner/head chef of 81 in Tokyo. Each dish is carefully crafted to tell a story, and the interiors which are reminiscent of a mid-town Manhattan loft are mesmerising.
How do you want to holiday?
